Machine for folding the ends of wrapper-labels against the ends of cans.



No. 866,223. a PATENTED SEPT. 1'7, 1907.

J. RITTY. MACHINE FOR FOLDING THE ENDS 0P WRAPPER LABELS AGAINST THEENDS 0F CANS. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1907.

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No. 866,223. PATENTED SEPT 17, 1907.

J. RITTY. MAGHINE FOR FOLDING THE ENDS OF WRAPPER LABELS AGAINST THEENDS 0F CANS.

APPLIOAIIION FILED FEB. 23. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GHJMMMQ No 866,223. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

J. RITTY.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING THE ENDS 0F WRAPPER LABELS AGAINST THE ENDS OP CANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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,' Wm M atmnu No. 866,223. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. J. RITTY.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING THE ENDS OF WRAPPER LABELS AGAINST THE ENDS 0P CANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET A.

UNITED STATES JOHN RITTY, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

DAYTON, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING THE ENDS OF WRAPPER-LABELS AGAINST THE E NDS OFCANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 23,1907. Serial No. 358,827.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RITTY, a citizen of the United States, residingat Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding the Ends ofWrapper-Labels Against the Ends of Cans; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to a machine for folding wrapper labels over theends of cans.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above typehaving a capacity for neatly folding wrapper labels over the ends ofcans and for locking the ends of the wrapper labels so folded, so thatthe possibility of the folded ends becoming loose is ob-. viated.

The invention comprises a head containing a cluster'of folders orfingers, which, in their first operation, engage the projecting end ofthe can label or wrapper at the circumferential edge of the can andflute or crimp said end of the label or wrapper, after which the clusterhead is rotated to cause the folders or fingers to crease the end of thelabel or wrapper and to fold it against the end of the can. A

Preceding a detail description of the invention, reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, of which I Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimproved machine for folding the ends of wrapper labels over the ends ofcans. Fig. 2, is a side elevation with the cluster head shown in sectionand a projected end of the label or wrapper broken away.- Fig. 3, is alongitudinal sectional view of the machine showing the positions of thefolders or fingers after the end of the label or wrapper has beencrimped or fluted against the end of the can and before the cluster headis rotated to cause said fingers to crease said end of the label. Fig.4, is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 5, is an elevation of thecluster head showing the foldcrs or fingers thrown out to the positionshown -in 3. Fig, 6, is an elevation of the cluster of fingers in thepositions shown in Fig. 3, and in which the proj ected end of the labelor wrapper is fluted or crimped and -is ready for creasing. Fig, 7, is aview of the end of a can showing the completion of the foldingof the endof the label or wrapper there-against.

The mechanism acting directly upon the projecting ends of the labels,comprises what is termed a cluster head, consisting of a concentriccluster of folders or fingers 1, which are pivotally mounted around ahead I 2. These fingers so clustered or grouped point to a common centerwhen thrown out of the head as in Figs. 3 and 5, and are preferablycone-shaped. It is necessary that said folders or fingers be pivoted inorder that they may assume the respective positions shown in Figs. 2 and3.

A desirable form of pivot consists of a series of bearings 3 into whichthe shanks 4 of the fingers are projected and adapted to turnfreelytherein when the folders or fingers are carried around by the rotatinghead. Extending at right angles fromthe bearings 3 are pins 5 which havebearings in sleeves 6, said sleeves being fast on the head 2. It willthus be seen that the folders or fingers will have independent rotarymovement in the bearings 3, and the bearings 3, together with thefingers will swing on the pins 5.

Pivotally connected to the bearings 3, are links 7 p which are alsopivoted at 8 to a spider .9, said spider having an extended tubularshaft 10 in line with the hub 11 of the cluster head 2. The said shaft10 receives a shaft 12 upon the end of which said head 2 is rigidlyconnected. The spider 9 is splined upon said shaft 12. Owing to thismanner of mounting the head 2 and the spider 9, the spider 9 may havelongitudinal movement on the shaft 12 while the head 2 may not have suchlongitudinal movement, and both the spider 9 and the head 2 may berotated together.

The cans to be operated upon may be held in alinement with the axis ofthe cluster head by any suitable means, such for example, as twosemi-cylindrical members 14 and 15 which are hinged on one side and forma jacket which supports the can with the projecting end of the wrapperlabel in a position to enter the axis of the cluster head as shown inFig. 2. The cluster head is moved up to receive the end 16 of thewrapper label as shown in Fig. 2. The cluster head, and the spider 9 aremoved to such position by the lever 17 which carries a shifting fork 18adapted to move the spider 9 by entering a peripheral recessin the shaft10 thereof. The shaft 12 to which the head 2 is fixed passes looselythrough the elongated hub or shaft 10 of said spider but is splinedthereto, and the end of said shaft 10 is recessed as at 19 to receive aspring 23 which incloses that end of the shaft 12. In moving the spidershaft 10 forward by the lever 17, the head shaft 12 is also movedforward as shown in Fig. 2, the dotted line representing the positionfrom which the lever 17 was moved. The tubular shaft 10 of the spider 9and the inner shaft '12 of the head 2 are practically united by thespring 23 when moving forward to receive the end of wrapper label in thehead. The rear end of the shaft 10 has a bearing 20, and the portion ofsaid shaft opposite said bearing 20, has splined upon it a bevel gear2]. which is inclosed in a bearing 22. The lever 17 which engagesthrough its fork the shaft 10 has its fulcrum at a suitable point, forexample, 17; when said lever is moved forward from the dotted positionin Fig. 2, to

' placed in the upright position,

the full position, the cluster head and the spider 9 are moved in unisonas before stated. From this position rearward, the spider 9 hasindependent movement on the shaft 12, as shown in Fig. 3; thisindependent movement is accomplished by returning the lever 17 to thedotted position in Fig. 2.. The upper portion of the lever 17 is firstmoved out to the dotted position, Fig. 4. The upper end. of the lever 17controls the position of a pivotal frame, owing to said upper end orportion of said lever being pivoted to the lower portion at 24. Thepivotal frame consists of a shaft 25 which is loosely mounted inbearings 26 projected from the main bearings 20 and 22.

Fixed to the shaft 25 are two'upright arms 25 which support a rod 24lying parallel with shaft 25. This rod 24 is in a position to be engagedby the upper end of the lever 17 when the. latter is moved to the dottedposition shown in Fig. 4. The shaft 25 has an arm 27 thereon, said armbeing splined upon the shaft and dropping at the proper time by gravityinto the position as shown in Fig. 3 in line with the end of the shaft12 to prevent said shaft 12 from being movedlongitudinally when thelever 17 is operated to move the spider 9 rearward to throw the foldersor fingers from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. Itwill be understood that, when the upper end of the operating lever 17 ismoved out to the dotted position as in Fig. 4, the arm 27 is elevatedaway from the end of the shaft 12, through the engagement of said lever17 with the rod 24 of the tilting frame. When said lever 17 is the arm27 drops behind the shaft 12. When the folders or fingers 1 are moved totheir limit as shown in Fig. 3, and preparatory to the rotation of thehead 2, it is essential that the end of the can shall receive no excessof pressure from said folders which might be due to the continuedmovement of the spider 9; this result is obtained by permitting theshaft 12 to yield against the arm 27, said arm yielding against thespring 28 for the excess of pressure required between the folders andthe end of the can. In-other words, when the desired contact between theend of the can and folders takes place, the shaft 12 will move backagainst the tension of the spring 28. The rotary movement is given thehead 2 when the folders have been moved to-the position shown in Fig. 3,by means of a bevel gear 29 upon a shaft which is rotated from a crank30. The said shaft is supported in a bearing 31, and the bevel gear 29engages the similar but larger gear 21 before referred to. This lattergear as before stated, is splined upon the tubular shaft 10 of thespider 9.

In the rotation of the head, the fingers or folders 1 rotateindividually as before stated through the friction between said fingersand the folded end of the wrapper label, and the said fingers inaddition are carried around bodily by the head to crease the folds whichis done by passing said fingers over. the folds see Figs. 6 and 7. Ashereinbefore stated, Fig. 6 represents the end of the wrapper label whenthe folding fingers 1 are moved to the position shown in Figs. 3 or 5.From this position the fingers or folders are rotated in a circle,pressing the folded end of the wrapper label flat against the head ofthe can creasing the folds and forming a lock at the center of the canhead. -This lock is formed by the inner ends of the fingers movingwithina small radius as compared with the movement of the larger orouter portions of said fingers. The projecting end of the wrapper labelis somewhat longer than half the diameter of the end of the can; owingto this, when the fingers or folders are rotated they cause the innerends of the folds to lie one over the other as shown in Fig. 7 and tothus lock each adjacent fold to the other. 1

Briefly described, the operation of the machine is as follows: A can isplaced in position in the jacket or holder as shown'in Fig. 1, with theend of the label to be folded, in line with the axis of the head. Theoperating handle 17 having been previously moved outwardly on its pivot24 to the dotted position Fig. 4, to remove the arm 27 away from the endof shaft 12; the lever 17 is then moved forward to cause the head 2 andthe spider 9 to move together to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereinthe end of the wrapper label is in a position to be engaged by thefingers 1. From this position, the operating handle 17 is moved to itsupright position which permits the arm 27 to drop in line with the endof the shaft 12. The rearward movement of said lever 17 causes the shaft10 and therewith the spider 9 to move independently of the shaft 12 andto thus throw forwardly in a uniform manner the folders or fingers 1through the connecting links 7 to the position shown in Figs. 3 or 5,and to thus crimp or fold the end of the wrapper label. The cluster headis then rotated through the crank 30 and bevel gears 29 and 21 to makeone complete revolution, during which the end of the wrapper label isfolded snugly and uniformly against the end of the can as shown in Fig.7. When the fingers 1 are thrown out from the cluster head, for example,from the positions shown in Fig. 2, they first press the wrapper labelover the circumferential edge of the can and hold said .wra'pper labelat these points while said fingers are completing their folding orcrimping movement in which the entire end, of the label is pressedagainst the end of the can. This is important for the reason that theend of the wrapper label tobe folded over the end of the can is heldfirmly around the edge of the can while the fingers are completing thefolds or erimps, and said wrapper label isprevented from bulging outbeyond the circumference of the can while being folded or crimped to thepositions shown in Fig. 6.

Having described my invention, I claim;

1. In a machine of lng fingers pivotally mounted upon a rotatable head,

means for initially moving'said fingers to press the label over thecircumferential edge of the can and then to a the type specified, acluster of foldposition to crimp or fold the end of a wrapper label Iagainst the end of the can, said fingers being parallel with the end ofthe label during the entire operation of folding the same, and means forrotating said lingers to move them laterally-over: ,the folds to creasesaid folds and to lock said folds at the axis of the end of the can 2.In a machine of the type specified, a concentric group of foldingfingers pivotally mounted upon a head, means for uniformly moving saidfingers outwardly from the head to posltions to crim or fold the end ofa wrapper label against the end of a can, said fingers first engagingthe label at the circumference of the can and maintaining parallelpositions with the end of the label during the operation of folding thesame, and means for rotating the head to cause the fingers to passlaterally over the folds cal-shaped fingers pivotally and concentricallymounted I w of the can and to fold or crimp the end ot said upon arotatable head, means for uniformly actuating said fingers to initiallycrimp or fold the end of a wrapper label against the end of a can, andmeans for rotating said head to cause said conical fingers to passlaterally over the folds of said wrapper label to crease the sameagainst the head of the can. I

4. In a machine of the type specified, a group of conical shaped fingersconcentrically mounted upon a rotatable head, means for holding a canwith the extended end of the wrapper label in a position to be engagedby said fingers, means for moving the fingers uniformly, to first pressthe wrapper label against the circumferential edge,

wrapper label from such points inwardly to the axis of the end of thecan, and means for rotating the fingers in a body oyer the end of thewrapper label thus folded to crease said folded end against the end ofthe can and to lock said folded end at the axis of the end of the can.

5. In a machine of the type specified, a cluster headfor folding theends of wrapper labels against the ends of cans, the same consisting ofa series of folders concentrically pivoted to a rotatable surroundingbody, said folders in one position being adapted to lie parallel withthe surrounding body upon which they are supported, and in whichposition the projected end of the wrapper label is permitted to enterthe cluster head to a position to be engaged by the folders, and thesaid folders in the other position lying parallel with the end of thelabel when acting to crimp the end of the label against the end of thecan, means for imparting such movements to said folders, and means forrotating the cluster head to cause the folders to crease the foldsagainst the end of the can.

6. In a machine for folding the ends of wrapper labels against the endsof cans, a rotatable head, a series of pivotal folding fingers groupedabout said head, means for actuating said fingers to initially press theend of'the wrapper label against the circumferential edge of the can andto fold said wrapper label inwardly until said fingers lie parallel withthe end of the can, said fingers maintaining positions parallel with theend of the label during the folding movement, and means for rotating thehead when the fingers arrive at such positions to cause the fingers topass laterally over the end of the can to flatten the folded wrapperlabel there-against.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN RIITY. Witnesses CAROLYN M. THEOBALD,

R. J. MCCARTY.

